From ‘Traitor’ to Inner Circle

In every society, leadership appointments are more than just administrative decisions. They send signals. They shape public trust, reveal political culture, and quietly teach us what is valued and what is ignored.

That is why the recent appointment of Rosemond Obeng as a presidential staffer in President Mahama’s new administration has sparked conversations across the country. It is not because people question her intelligence or drive. It is because of the path that led her here and what it quietly tells us about the times we live in.

Rosemond is not a stranger to Ghana’s political stage. She once worked closely with Vice President Bawumia and publicly expressed her deep appreciation for his support. She called him a mentor. She acknowledged his sponsorship of her education. It was clear he played a significant role in her journey. Their bond seemed built on trust and loyalty—until everything changed.

As the 2024 elections drew closer, Rosemond stepped onto national platforms not as a neutral observer, but as a fierce critic of the very man she once praised. She questioned his leadership. She attacked his credibility. She distanced herself from everything he represented. The moment was deliberate. Her words were sharp. And the timing couldn’t have been more critical.

To many, it felt like more than politics. It felt personal. A betrayal. Not because people are against growth or change, but because loyalty matters—especially when someone played a role in helping you become who you are.

And now, that same act of breaking away appears to have opened a door to power. Rosemond Obeng, once a loud critic of both Bawumia and President Mahama’s first term, now finds herself seated within President Mahama’s inner circle. Not as a reconciled supporter. Not as a voice of unity from afar. But as a presidential staffer—trusted and empowered.

A front-row seat.
A place of influence.
A reward.
But What Exactly Is Being Rewarded?
Is it about competence? Is it about merit? Is it unity?

Or is it the case that betrayal, if timed well and delivered boldly, has become a useful political currency?

Her public break from Dr. Bawumia happened when his campaign needed every voice to stay strong. And when she walked away, it left a scar. It was unexpected. It was close to home. It felt like she didn’t just change parties—she turned on someone who once believed in her.

That moment may have helped tip the scales. A familiar face flipping sides on national television gave his opponents a tool to work with. It shifted public perception. And now, the same moment that hurt one leader is helping another.

This Is Bigger Than Politics
This is about the story we are telling a generation.

What are we saying to the young woman who chose to stay loyal when no one was watching? What are we saying to the young man who served his party when it had no power, who stood on principle, who stayed the course even when rewards were nowhere in sight?

And what about the NDC footsoldiers who have walked through fire for their party? The ones who gave up jobs, drained personal savings, sacrificed time and even relationships, just to keep hope alive in opposition. They called into radio shows. They marched. They debated. They defended. Not for reward, but for belief.

And now they watch as someone who once mocked their party, who openly ridiculed its leaders, is ushered into the corridors of power. What are we telling them? That they were too loyal? That they should have switched sides? That speaking against your roots pays more than watering them?

If betrayal becomes the ladder to success, what happens to loyalty? If turning your back on those who helped you rise becomes a strategy, what happens to the future of public service?

Let Us Not Forget the Role of Loyalty
When someone sponsors your education, they are not just giving money. They are investing in your story. They are putting their name, effort, and belief behind your future. It is an act of hope. An act of trust.

To turn around and tear that person down—especially when they are down themselves—is not strength. It is not empowerment. It is painful to witness. It chips away at the very values that hold us together as people.

Gratitude is sacred in our culture. Loyalty is not weakness. It is wisdom. It is character. It is knowing where you came from and remembering who helped you along the way.

Many may forget what you said. Some may forget what you did. But they will never forget how your actions made them feel. When someone you once praised becomes the very person you use as a stepping stone, the wound goes beyond politics. It becomes human.

This story is not just about Rosemond Obeng. It is about what we reward as a country. It is about what young people are learning. That the road to recognition is not paved with service, but with strategy. That speaking loud enough and switching fast enough can get you in.

But what kind of leaders will this produce? What kind of future are we building?

A nation that lifts up betrayal while ignoring sacrifice will one day find itself without people who truly care. Because no one will want to serve with honesty if betrayal is what gets rewarded.

True leadership is built on consistency. On sacrifice. On showing up again and again even when no one is clapping. It is built on character, not performance.

If we throw loyalty away, we lose the very thing that makes nation-building possible.

A Word to the Youth Watching
This is a moment to pay attention. Not every rise is a story of honour. Not every appointment is a sign of wisdom. And not every person who is celebrated has walked a path worth following.

There are thousands of young people in this country who are quietly giving their all to what they believe in. Some have paid heavy prices for their loyalty. They have lost jobs, relationships, and time. But they have stayed true.

And now, they watch others walk into glory for switching sides. For turning coats. For saying what the cameras wanted to hear.

This is your choice.
Will you remain faithful when loyalty seems foolish?

Will you hold on to your principles when others are trading theirs for access?

Will you take the long road, even when the shortcuts are applauded?

The world is watching. History is watching. And one day, your children will ask what you stood for. Let your answer be one of pride. That you stood for what mattered. That you kept your honour. That even when you could have chosen the easy way out, you chose the right way instead.

Because real honour is not in what you gain. It is in what you protect—your name, your values, your soul.

Final Thoughts
From traitor to inner circle. That is the story we are watching unfold. But this is no longer just about one woman’s rise. It is about the kind of country we are becoming. It is about what we now call strength, what we reward as strategy, and what we overlook in the name of politics. Let this moment open our eyes. Let it remind us that betrayal is not smart politics. It is a slow poison. One that weakens trust, cheapens loyalty, and breaks the spirit of those who still believe in values. Ghana cannot afford to lose its soul in the name of power. If those who stood firm in the storm are ignored, and those who walked away in the rain are welcomed with applause, then we are sending a dangerous message to our future leaders. We are telling them that character is optional, that honour is outdated, that betrayal is just another way to climb. But we can do better. We must do better. It is not too late to return to the things that truly build a nation: loyalty, truth, gratitude, and consistency. Because when all is said and done, power will fade, positions will change, and names will be forgotten. But values will remain. And the story of how we rose will always matter more than how high we went. Let us choose the kind of story we can one day tell with pride.

By Victor Raul Puobabangna Plance from Eggu in the Upper West Region of Ghana

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